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Julien M
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Posted: Wed 02 Apr, 2014 5:17 am Post subject: |
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Sean Flynt wrote: | Between the Dremel and using the pommel itself as a sanding block for fine fitting, I think you'll get a good fit. |
Again, thanks Sean that was the way to go. I've had little luck with these sanding drums until now, but they were perfect in this case and I have a precise fit now.
All is in place, now on to polishing/cleaning all components again...as these have been laying about my workshop for too long, and then the peening...at last!
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Sean Flynt
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Julien M
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Posted: Tue 15 Apr, 2014 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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At last...the sword is assembled!
The grip leather isn't dyed yet, but the lacing on the grip will likely be white (picked up some leather tong at the Pontoise medieval market last week end). Following Peter's advice, I've thinned it down as much as I could, anticipating on the thickness the full diamond cross wrap.
I've used brass wedges, hammered in the guard slot to secure the piece solidly on the blade - a very efficient technique I will use again. I did struggle at the critical moment when everything was soaked with epoxy - a good tip: use acetone based nail cleaner to get rid off excess epoxy glue...works like a charm.
I'm very satisfied with the peening - first time with a countersinked peen block (hot peen) - it's barely visible, and the process was quick and painless. The peen block was a bit deformed after the heating/hammering, so I taped Chatterton around it to protect the pommel and reworked it with files.
I'll post some stats when I'll be completely done with the grip wrap.
Let me know what you think.
Cheers,
J
Last edited by Julien M on Tue 15 Apr, 2014 2:53 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Dean F. Marino
Location: Midland MI USA Joined: 24 Aug 2011
Posts: 229
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Posted: Tue 15 Apr, 2014 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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Julien M wrote: | Hi Guys,
Thanks a lot for your comments.
For the grip I am thinking of something like the below, which would take some experimenting first. If I can't be bothered I'll do a straight forward Albion style leather over cord wrap.
J |
...and it could be done. However? Given the pattern in the drawing, would you consider an OVER wrap, a RISER pattern, or a CARVED pattern? That's the trouble with historic etchings... we have no good concept of depth .
I think it COULD be done any of these ways - though, as a riser pattern, it would be difficult to get that high resolution of the little circles. As a CARVED pattern? definately. As an overwrap? I would be worried about things coming off under use.
Were it me... (and I am NOT the worlds best leathersmith) - I would consider a Veg-Tan carving pattern, over a cord wrapped core. A little tricky, given the requirement for thin grip leather..... but doable.
In edhil, hai edhil. In edain, hai edain.
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Kai Lawson
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Posted: Tue 15 Apr, 2014 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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That looks great! What color do you intend to dye the grip?
"And they crossed swords."
--William Goldman, alias S. Morgenstern
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Sean Flynt
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Tim Lison
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Posted: Tue 15 Apr, 2014 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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This came out great! I am really excited to see it with the grip finished. Are you planning a scabbard? Such a nice sword should have one...
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Julien M
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Posted: Wed 16 Apr, 2014 12:53 am Post subject: |
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Thanks guys! I'm tempted to go red for the grip again, with white lacing on top. It may be a bit redundant with my other projects though. I could try blue with white lacing, and make this a very french sword with a blue scabbard with fleur de lys theme...like a connetable sword....problem with blue is that I had bad surprises with this color applied to this leather (good but old ebay hides, with an odd patina that makes blue surface with a nasty bronze hue. Will keep thing about this today.
Edit - forget the above. Just tried my blue Fieblings and though my fingers are now blue as hell the grip as turned to red copper, just like last time. Going black...
Tim, of course I'm planning a scabbard, I'm always planning something though, and it could take a while before this sword gets one. See the pict below, these are my current projects (I've peened the Henry V gen 2 since)...but still, snail pace, and enough to keep me busy for years I will likely make a wooden scabbard core to store it, because paper scabbards soak the blade oil, and you end up with marks, and I hate buffing, sanding, cleaning.
Dean, all your suggestions could potentially work, or turn very bad I too am concerned with the idea of tiny washers held in place by the nail, seems too easy to rip these off. I will stick to an Albion style diamond wrap, it seems tricky enough as it is. For this project, I learned brass wedges, hot peening with a peen block, and now this elaborate wrap. That's good enough for me and I need to wrap it up instead of continuing to add complexity. Time to move on to something else!
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Radovan Geist
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Posted: Wed 16 Apr, 2014 4:44 am Post subject: |
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Nice and clean, Julien.
and BTW - i like your collection of blades, projects-in-progress, and projects-to-be:)
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Kai Lawson
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Posted: Wed 16 Apr, 2014 10:32 am Post subject: |
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Wow--that's a lot of blades! Looks like a lot of fun and potentially frustrating projects. If you keep up with the level of quality seen so far, they'll all look really nice.
"And they crossed swords."
--William Goldman, alias S. Morgenstern
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Julien M
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 5:26 am Post subject: |
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First moat is finally wrapped!
Well now I can say that these are *very* tricky to make. Just picture yourself holding the sword between you knees, with a meter long leather strap soaked with glue - and you have to be fast should you want to correct the placement of the overlapping pattern...you also have to rotate the sword to check the result from all 4 grip angles while maintaining both strings in tension and not soak the background with glue... I practiced with a dry cord, so that my hands would remember when the time came to apply glue (of course the pattern was much more regular when practicing for it )
Then on to the nails. I had to cut each to the correct length (as the grip tappers), as they would not fold in contact with the sword tang.
In short, very nerve racking but very rewarding. I'm very happy with the way it turned out, it was well worth the effort.
I believe this sword is my best work to date.
I wish I could take shots outside - not an option right now but here is the best I could do.
Hope you like it.
Cheers,
J
Last edited by Julien M on Thu 17 Apr, 2014 9:12 am; edited 2 times in total
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Kai Lawson
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 6:13 am Post subject: |
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Oh WOW--that is stunning. Very powerful and clean look. 10/10 for this one.
"And they crossed swords."
--William Goldman, alias S. Morgenstern
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Dean F. Marino
Location: Midland MI USA Joined: 24 Aug 2011
Posts: 229
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 6:33 am Post subject: |
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I think you did a very difficult and STUNNING job . Would love more details - did you predrill for the nails? Perhaps just a drop of Epoxy on the nail tips? I've never seen a wrap that detailed .
In edhil, hai edhil. In edain, hai edain.
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Kirk Lee Spencer
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 7:20 am Post subject: |
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Hi Julien...
très très bon
You should be very proud of this work...fantastic proportions... wonderful finish.
take care
ks
Two swords
Lit in Eden’s flame
One of iron and one of ink
To place within a bloody hand
One of God or one of man
Our souls to one of
Two eternities
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Ryan Renfro
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Fantastic work, mate. The only problem is now you have to find a way to outdo this for the Sovereign blade ;-)
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Jeffrey Faulk
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Great work!
I know it's almost certainly just a trick of the light, but doesn't the first photo of your complete sword make it look like the blade is just slightly leaf-shaped? A rather tricky look that
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Leo Todeschini
Industry Professional
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Oh Bloody hell Julien, don't you get it?
People who don't do this for a job are not supposed to make things that look like that - it is fabulous and an inspiration to all of us.
The contrast of the grip is a stunning feature, the guard is very neatly done and well proportioned and as I personally like type XIV very much this really does make for a great package and worth all the hell with the peen block.
Scabbard next? Offer is still open to come over so I can show you how to do the metalwork.
Tod
www.todsworkshop.com
www.todcutler.com
www.instagram.com/todsworkshop
https://www.facebook.com/TodsWorkshop
www.youtube.com/user/todsstuff1
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Peter Johnsson
Industry Professional
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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Great Work!
Very nicely done!
Handsome sword and thorough, dedicated work.
I agree with Tod. You should not be doing this. Seriously.
:-)
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Bryan Heff
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Posted: Thu 17 Apr, 2014 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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I love it and am blown away at the level of detail. The patience you've shown and the details that you've been able to achieve are outstanding. I have dabbled around in modifying swords or the occasional re-hilt and I tend to rush to the finish, and the results speak for themselves, nothing special...this work shows what time and patience can achieve. Fantastic!
The church is near but the roads are icy. The tavern is far but I will walk carefully. - Russian Proverb
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Sean Flynt
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